Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has once again extended the last date for registration and re-registration for its January 2026 session. The new deadline is February 28, 2026. Students who are yet to complete their fresh registration, as well as existing learners who have not yet completed re-registration for the ongoing session, must submit their applications online before this date through the official portal at ignou.ac.in.
This extension comes as a relief for thousands of aspirants who could not apply within the earlier window. The university has clarified that the online portal remains active and all eligible candidates should complete the process at the earliest to avoid last-minute complications.
Who Can Apply
IGNOU offers a wide range of programmes under the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) model as well as fully online programmes. Candidates seeking admission to the following categories of programmes can apply for the January 2026 session:
- Undergraduate (UG) Programmes
- Postgraduate (PG) Programmes
- Diploma and Certificate Programmes
- Overseas Students — including SAARC, Non-SAARC, FSRI, and NRI candidates
Existing IGNOU students who need to complete re-registration for their continuing programmes must also do so before February 28, 2026.
How to Apply — Step-by-Step Process
- Visit the official IGNOU admission portal at ignou.ac.in.
- On the homepage, go to the ‘Admission’ section and click on the relevant programme link for which you wish to apply.
- Click on the ‘Click Here to Register’ link and fill in the required personal and academic details to complete your registration.
- After registration, log in using your credentials and fill in the complete application form with all required information.
- Upload the following documents: a scanned recent photograph, scanned signature, and any other supporting documents as specified for your chosen programme.
- Pay the application fee online through the available payment modes. Note that the fee varies by programme — candidates must verify their course-specific fee before proceeding.
- After successful payment, download and print a copy of the completed application form and fee receipt for future reference.
Important Date
Last Date for Registration and Re-registration: February 28, 2026
Session: January 2026
Mode of Application: Online — ignou.ac.in
Applicable Programmes: UG, PG, Diploma, Certificate (ODL and Online)
Overseas Students Eligible: Yes — SAARC, Non-SAARC, FSRI, NRI
Fee Structure
The fee for IGNOU programmes varies according to the course chosen. There is no single unified fee applicable to all programmes. Candidates are advised to check the fee structure for their specific programme on the official website before filling out the application form. Incomplete applications due to fee-related confusion will not be entertained after the deadline.
Important Advisory for Candidates
University officials have indicated that a further extension of the deadline beyond February 28, 2026, may not be possible. Students are therefore strongly advised to complete their registration and fee payment well in advance. In case of any technical difficulty during the application process, candidates may contact IGNOU’s toll-free helpline for assistance.
About IGNOU
Indira Gandhi National Open University, established in 1985, is one of the largest open universities in the world. It offers over 200 programmes through the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode and online mode, catering to learners across India and abroad. IGNOU provides flexible, accessible, and affordable education to students who cannot attend conventional full-time institutions due to professional, geographical, or other constraints.
